Abstract: A switch controller for controlling a power switch includes a signal transformer to galvanically isolate a primary side from a secondary side and receive and transfer a transition signal to transition the power switch to an on or off state between the primary side and the secondary side. The transition signal pulses to a first value to indicate the power switch transitions to the on state, to a second value to indicate the power switch transitions to the off state, and remains at a third value when there is no transition. A transmission circuit is coupled to a primary winding to control a switch to generate the transition signal. The switch switches a substantially low impedance onto the primary winding when there is no transition. A receiver circuit is coupled to a secondary winding to generate a drive signal to control the power switch in response to the transition signal.

Abstract: A circuit for turning off a power semiconductor switch includes a turn-off transistor coupled to switch a signal for turning off the power semiconductor switch onto a control terminal of the power semiconductor switch and a feedback control loop for controlling a voltage on the control terminal of the power semiconductor switch during turn-off. The feedback loop includes a feedback path to feedback a measurement of the voltage of the control terminal of the power semiconductor switch, a control terminal reference voltage generator to generate a time-dependent reference voltage, an error amplifier to generate an error signal representative of a difference between the voltage of the control terminal and the time-dependent reference voltage, and a forward path to convey the error signal forward for controlling the switching of the signal for turning off the power semiconductor switch onto the control terminal of the power semiconductor switch by the turn-off transistor.

Abstract: A data communications receiver including a receiver coil, a first amplification stage coupled to the receiver coil, the first amplification circuitry to differentially amplify at least part of signal received by the receiver coil relative to a threshold, a second amplification stage coupled to receive the differentially amplified signal from the first amplification stage, the second amplification stage comprising a current mirror, and hysteretic level shifting circuitry to shift a level of part of the signal received by the receiver coil, the threshold or part of the signal received by the receiver coil and the threshold such that, in response to the at least part of the signal received by the receiver coil having crossed the threshold, a threshold crossing in the other direction is delayed.

Abstract: A transformer includes a transformer core, a first wire, which forms a first winding, and a second wire, which forms a second winding. The first and second windings are wound around the transformer core. A preformed insulation structure is arranged between the first and second winding and designed to space apart the second winding from the first winding and the transformer core. The preformed insulation structure further includes a first shell which at least partially encloses the transformer core with the first winding, and a second shell which at least partially encloses the transformer core with the first winding. The first and second shells are identical. One or more holes are defined in the first shell and the second shell. The one or more holes cover more than 10% of a surface of the preformed insulation structure.

Abstract: A switch controller includes a primary side including signal transmission circuitry to transmit signals representative of desired transitions of a switch. A signal transformer galvanically isolates the primary side from a secondary side but inductively couples signal transmission circuitry to signal reception circuitry. A switch is coupled to switch a low impedance onto a primary side winding of the signal transformer during pauses between transmissions of the signals representative of the desired transition of the switch. The secondary side includes signal reception circuitry, a drive signal generator to generate a drive signal in response to valid signals received by the signal reception circuitry, and a validation circuit that includes a first comparator, a timer, and a second comparator to compare a timed duration with a threshold duration, and to output to the drive signal generator signals indicative of the validity of particular signals received by the signal reception circuitry.

Abstract: A device for detecting a change in voltage across a switch includes a resistive-capacitive network and a timer circuit. The resistive-capacitive network includes an impedance, a first resistive element, and a first capacitive element to provide a signal representative of a voltage across the switch. The timer circuit generates a detection signal that is representative of the change in the voltage across the switch after switching on of the switch. The timer circuit raises a level of the detection signal if the voltage across the switch does not fall below a predetermined value after switching on of the switch. The resistive-capacitive network is configured such that parasitic capacitances of the device are compensated or over compensated so as to prevent the timer circuit from raising the level of the detection signal if the voltage across the switch does fall below the predetermined value after switching on of the switch.